Faith and artistry intertwine across Wisconsin’s landscapes, offering groups moments of awe and reflection

By Justine Leavitt

There’s a hush to Wisconsin’s sacred places, a stillness that settles as sunlight filters through stained glass or a breeze stirs the trees. Here, centuries of faith are woven into the land’s history.

This journey offers more than sightseeing. Hilltop basilicas, forest shrines, and luminous grottos reveal how faith and beauty take root in Wisconsin’s heartland.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion

Outside Green Bay, among gently swaying fields, lies the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, the only Vatican-approved Marian apparition site in the United States approved by the Catholic Church.

After walking the peaceful grounds, your group can visit the chapel where a Belgian immigrant saw the Queen of Heaven clothed in white between two trees. Intrigued? Join guided tours or prayer services to feel the air touched by grace.

Basilicas of Milwaukee

In Milwaukee, two architectural marvels show the artistry behind faith. The Basilica of St.Josaphat, modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, rises above the city with its grand dome and gilded murals. Group tours reveal not only the intricate craftsmanship but also the remarkable story of how it was built from salvaged materials.

But don’t let your group lose track of time because you definitely won’t want to miss the nearby Frank Lloyd Wright’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Unique in its architecture, its circular form feels both ancient and modern, an inspired space where geometry meets divinity.

High above the hills of southeastern Wisconsin, Holy Hill Basilica has guided pilgrims for over acentury. Its twin spires pierce the sky, a beacon visible for miles. Groups can climb the scenic tower for panoramic views, attend Mass, or wander the wooded trails. Holy Hill is as much a retreat into nature as it is a journey of faith.

The Unitarian Meeting House

Excited for more? Another Wright masterpiece waits in Madison, the Unitarian Meeting House. Its soaring rooflines seem to lift heavenward while sunlight pours through tall glass walls.

Learn as a group how Wright believed that architecture itself could bea sacred place where thought, light, and human spirit converge.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In La Crosse, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe rests within 100 wooded acres, where winding paths lead past fountains and devotional art to a basilica that’s equally inviting and awe-inspiring.

It’s a place to move slowly, perhaps in prayer, perhaps in awe as nature and artistry engulf you. Each step will draw you into a deeper trance as you marvel at the sacred details inspiredby Mexican design.

The Kinstone Sanctuary

Overlooking the Mississippi River in Fountain City, Kinstone is an outdoor sanctuary of standing stones and labyrinths that align with the sun and stars.

Groups can walk the spiral paths or gather for quiet reflection among monoliths that seem to hum with energy. Inspired by ancient sites like Stonehenge, it’s a place where history meets modern America.

Wisconsin’s Grottos of Faith

End your pilgrimage at Wisconsin’s remarkable grottos, folk-art testaments to creativity and belief. The Dickeyville Grotto, crafted from shells, gems, and glass, gleams like faith carved into the earth.

Up North, outside of Wisconsin Rapids, Rudolph, the Father Wagner Grotto, invites visitors to wander through winding tunnels lined with sacred scenes. Here, a century-old work of devotion is forever frozen in time.